Watch Handling: Seiko SBBN015 300m Professional Diver
Seiko released three prodessional divers recently. Two of them are rated 300m (SBBN015 and SBBN017) and one of them 1000m (SBDX011). I should be getting the SBDX011 soon and while waiting, I had the privilege to handle one of the new 300m divers, the SBBN015.
Here’s the box that I received.
Upon opening the cover of the presentation box, I saw the watch sitting there, one of the two newest models in the quartz Tuna family.
The watch is very soothing to the eyes. It does not reflect a lot of light due to the use of brushed and matt finishings.
The shroud is brush finished and is not glaring to look at compared to a shroud smooth surface. The ‘white on black’ bezel insert appears to have a layer of protection that is matt finished. The bracelet is covered by protective plastic but I can see that it has brushed finishing.
Below is a closeup of the dial. I see that the lume material is nicely applied and the hour markers have a grey coloured framed around them. The hour and minute hands are brushed finished as well.
From the finishing of these components, I can tell that the watch was designed to reduce glaring effect to the minimum.
Here’s the side profile of the watch showing the signed crown and drilled lugs. The watch uses a curved crystal just like the SBBN007.
The Philips screw used on the older models has been replaced by the hex screw.
Here’s a caseback shot.
The bracelet has brushed finishing and comes with a flip lock clasp with push button release as well as a safety catch that is also used to release the wet suit extension.
Besides the SBBN015, the other new model, the SBBN017 looks pretty close to the discontinued SBBN007.
I suspect the SBBN015 will become more popular because of its more classic black bezel insert and the OEM bracelet.
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SBBN015 featured in this post is provided by:
483 Sims Avenue, Singapore 387555
Tel: 6273 3355 Fax: 6278 8929
bigtime@singnet.com.sg
http://www.chang.com.sg
Hi Thomas,
Nice review but I must say, I like the silver bezel better.
BTW, I bought the Orient Star Divers 300m (yellow) from Leslie and in the process, placed additional orders for three other friends (one of them wanted a black and a yellow one). This makes a total of five. We should gather one day and have all our Orient’s together for a group wrist shot =)
Hi Tony,
Congrats on your new watch. Perhaps we can meet on the day your friends collect their watches for a group wrist shot.
Best regards,
Thomas
kako kupiti ovaj sat
In English please. Thank you.
Hi, I’m a newbie and I’m a bit confused. You say it has quartz movement. I thought all Seiko “tuna cans” were automatic. Do all SBBN007 replacements have quartz movement only? Thanks.
Hi Fab,
Not all tuna cans are automatic. In fact, there are only three automatic tuna cans – SBDX011, SBDX005 and the vintage 6159-7010.
SBBN015 (the watch featured in this post) and SBBN017 are the replacements for the SBBN007 and both are quartz.
Best regards,
Thomas